Bachmann 32-780V

Class & Prototype

The British Rail Class 37 is one of Britain's most successful diesel locomotive designs, with 309 locomotives built 1960-1965 by English Electric. Powered by the proven 12CSVT diesel engine producing 1,750 bhp, these Co-Co diesels served for 65 years on freight, passenger, and mixed-traffic duties across the entire BR network. Known as "Tractors" for their distinctive exhaust note, Class 37s worked everything from East Anglian expresses to West Highland Line services, Welsh coal trains, and nuclear flask operations. Extensive 1980s refurbishment created specialist subclasses including 37/4 ETH passenger variants, 37/5 freight, 37/7 heavy freight, and 37/6 Nightstar variants. Approximately 60 remain in mainline service with 30 preserved. Comprehensive OO gauge models available from Bachmann, Accurascale, and Hornby; N gauge from Graham Farish; O gauge from Heljan across extensive livery ranges spanning BR green through privatisation eras.

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery

West Coast Railways is Britain's premier heritage railway operator and charter train company, operating from the historic Carnforth MPD in Lancashire since 1998. The company runs the world-famous Jacobite steam train through the Scottish Highlands from Fort William to Mallaig, crossing the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct featured in the Harry Potter films.

As a licensed train operating company and spot-hire operator, West Coast Railways provides steam and diesel locomotives, heritage carriages, and crews for charter services across the UK's most scenic routes. Their extensive fleet includes preserved Black Five locomotives, Royal Scot and Jubilee classes, plus heritage diesel traction including Class 37 and Class 57 machines.

The company also operates popular services including the Scarborough Spa Express and Dalesman tours over the spectacular Settle and Carlisle line. Based at the former LMS depot featured in the 1945 film Brief Encounter, West Coast Railways maintains comprehensive workshop facilities for steam locomotive restoration and heritage carriage maintenance.

Despite facing modern regulatory challenges, the company continues to provide authentic railway heritage experiences using preserved locomotives and period rolling stock, attracting both railway enthusiasts and international tourists to Britain's steam railway legacy.

West Coast Railways Standard Maroon Livery represents the company's primary locomotive scheme applied to their diverse diesel fleet since 1998. This distinctive livery features a maroon base colour with grey roof sections and the characteristic West Coast Railways gold logo prominently displayed on the locomotive bodysides.

The scheme has been applied across multiple locomotive classes including Class 31, Class 37, Class 47, and Class 57 machines, creating visual consistency throughout the WCR fleet. Notable examples include Class 37 locomotives 37516 Loch Laidon, 37518 Fort William/An Gearasdan, 37669, 37676 Loch Rannoch, 37685 Loch Arkaig, and 37706, plus Class 47 locomotives such as 47854, and Class 57 examples including 57313.

The livery maintains the West Coast Railways corporate identity established to complement their maroon coaching stock, creating cohesive train formations for charter services. The scheme uses a simplified two-tone approach with clean lines and minimal complications, ensuring easy maintenance whilst providing professional appearance standards required for mainline operations.

Class 31/1 locomotive 31190 Gryphon also carried this standard maroon scheme, demonstrating WCR's consistent application across their entire diesel fleet regardless of locomotive class or operational role.

For railway modellers, the Standard WCR Maroon scheme offers an authentic contemporary heritage railway livery suitable for charter train operations from the late 1990s onwards. Multiple manufacturers produce accurate representations in various scales, making this an accessible prototype for modern railway modelling scenarios featuring preserved steam locomotives, heritage diesel traction, and period coaching stock.